Key Players Taken Out in Methamphetamine Bust

Southern Police have today arrested two North
Island men who they allege are lynchpins in the supply and
distribution of methamphetamine into Southland.

Dubbed
Operation Queen, police targeted the distribution and sale
of methamphetamine into Invercargill and the wider Southland
area, with a goal to stop the drug's supply at source.

In
a combined sting, Invercargill and Southern District Police
organised crime squads executed two warrants, one in
Hamilton and the other in Auckland.

They arrested a
46-year-old Hamilton man who had previously lived in
Invercargill and a 43-year-old man living in Auckland.

The
pair is appearing in the Auckland and Hamilton courts today
on methamphetamine supply charges.

During the warrants
Police also seized equipment believed to be used in the
manufacture of methamphetamine, a quantity of
methamphetamine and cannabis, and $4000 in cash.

Police
believe that as a result of Operation Queen, part of this
manufacturing operation has been shut down.

Detective
Senior Sergeant Malcolm Inglis, of the Southern District
Organised Crime Squad, says that the pair is alleged to be
the main perpetrators of the supply chain for
methamphetamine into Southland.

Police believe their
activities have resulted in methamphetamine with a street
value of between $150,000 and $200,000 being sold into
Invercargill.

Police also allege that the pair made more
than eight trips between Auckland and Invercargill to source
methamphetamine for sale into the southern city.

"Southern
Police are committed to continued targeting of anyone who
becomes involved in the distribution and sale of
methamphetamine into our region. This drug is money-driven
and people involved have no concern or care for the level of
harm it wrecks on our Southern communities."

The
operation, which has been ongoing for the past four months,
is the third major operation that Southern District Police
have undertaken to target methamphetamine supply and
distribution over the past two years.

It follows on from
Operation Rocky in 2011 and Operation Moses this year. Both
highlighted that significant quantities of methamphetamine
are sourced from outside the
district.

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